First Amendment Congress
The First Amendment Congress is an organization established to promote dialogue between the media and the public, primarily focusing on issues related to freedom of expression. Founded by Jean Otto and several major print and broadcast news associations, the Congress emerged in response to growing public scrutiny of the media. By 1995, it had expanded to include twenty national associations, such as the Associated Press and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.
Operating from the University of Colorado in Denver, the organization initially concentrated on the public's reaction to news media but later broadened its scope to encompass a wide range of First Amendment issues. The Congress actively sponsors meetings aimed at discussing these topics and has developed educational resources, including lesson plans for K-12 students, designed to raise awareness about the First Amendment and its relevance to everyday life. This focus on education underscores the Congress's commitment to fostering a deeper understanding of freedom of expression among younger generations.
First Amendment Congress
Founded: 1979
Type of organization: Group sponsored by print and broadcast news reporters to promote First Amendment values
Significance: The First Amendment Congress is active in sponsoring opportunities for discussion of First Amendment issues and in developing curricular materials concerning freedom of expression
The First Amendment Congress was founded under the leadership of Jean Otto by a number of major print and broadcast news associations. The news media sensed that it was under fire from the public and consequently sought to foster a dialogue between the public and the media to further freedom of expression. By 1995 the organization’s voting members included twenty national associations, including the Associated Press, United Press International, and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. The organization operates at the University of Colorado at Denver’s Graduate School of Public Affairs. Although the First Amendment Congress focused originally on issues relating to the public response to news media, it gradually expanded its concerns to include a broad spectrum of First Amendment issues. The Congress sponsors a variety of meetings for the public discussion of these issues. It has also prepared and distributed a set of lesson plans for grades K through twelve called Education for Freedom. The plans promote awareness among students of the First Amendment and seek to relate freedom of expression to everyday events from students’ lives.
